7013. Boult, A. J., [United Shoe Machinery Co.]. March 23. Uppers.-Relates to shoe-upper lacing-machines, and more particularly to the machine described in Specification No. 16,520, A.D. 1901. The various parts of the machine are actuated from a cam shaft 22<a>, Fig. 1. The needle-carrier 15, Figs. 1, 8, and 9, which is carried by arms pivoted to a yoke 13 on a shaft journaled in the machine frame, is actuated through a series of links, one of which comprises a turnbuckle, by a cam-disk 22. This imparts to the carrier an angular movement from a maximum downward position x, Fig. 49, in which the needles are in a position to receive the work, to a maximum upward position y, in which the needles receive the lacing-cord, there being also an intermediate position z, to permit the passage of the cord-feeding needle through the loops of the lacing. There is also a fourth position slightly below the position z, to allow the cord-feeding needle to pass over and close to the needles as it feeds them with the lacing-cord. The needles are shown at 25, Fig. 8, each being formed with a blunt point, and with a slot or eye 26 opening into a throat 27, and also with a groove 28 that lies at ninety degrees from the slot. The needles are secured in spindles 31, Fig. 9, which are themselves secured so as to be incapable of longitudinal movement in holders 24 situated in a space formed by a front plate across the outer end of the carrier 15. A lazy-tongs system of links allows all the holders 24 to be simultaneously moved laterally, to vary the spacing apart of the needles as required by the work. The longitudinal movement of the needles is effected by the carrier 13, which is oscillated from a cam-disk on the shaft 22<a>. A rotation of the needles at certain times is also required, and this is effected by lugs 79, Fig. 8, formed on plates 80 secured to a support 49<a> which actuates the looper fingers 71. These lugs 79 alternately engage-a bell-crank lever 76, Figs. 8 and 9, which engages a bar 73 in which crank-pins 36 projecting from collars on the needle spindles 31 are seated. The needles are thereby rotated through an arc of substantially ninety degrees The support 49<a> is dovetailed in the carrier 15, and is actuated from a cam-disk 53 on the shaft 22<a>. The looper fingers 71 are secured in holders 65 adjustably secured upon a plate 56, which can be moved relatively to the support 49<a> to vary the position of the looper fingers with respect to the needles. The outer end of each of the looper fingers is bent downwards, and provided with a roller 72. The cordfeeding needle 86, Fig. 1, is secured in a depending arm 85 of a carrier or shuttle mounted to reciprocate in a guide 82. The end of the needle is inclined at its upper side, and provided with an eye for the lacing cord. Behind the eye, the needle is notched to permit the passage of the cord clamps or grippers 103, 104. The needle is reciprocated by rack and pinion and segmental gearing 95, 97, 98, 99 actuated by a cam-disk 101. To prevent the upper from projecting into the path of the needle, guards 90, 91, 176, Fig. 30, are provided. The guards 90, 91, of which the latter are adjustable, are secured to the guide 82, and are provided with perforated lugs for the passage of the needle 86, while the guard 176 consists of a downwardly-projecting arm secured to the machine frame. The work is inserted in the machine beneath or inside the guards. The cord clamps 103, 104 consist of bars mounted to slide in a head 102 projecting from the machine frame. They are actuated from a cam-disk 115 through a series of links, two of which have co-operating cam-faces maintained in engagement by a spring. Adjustable sections are provided for varying the pressure of the clamps on the cord. Fixed to the gripper 104 is a cutter, against which the cord is drawn during the backward movement of the needle 86. An adjustable tension device mounted on the needle carrier, and actuated from a cam-roll 130 on the cylinder 101, holds the cord during the last part of this backward movement so that it is severed by the cutter. The lacing operation is as follows :-The carrier 15 is just below the z position, Fig. 49, and the needle 86 passes above the throats 27 of the looper needles and just inside the depending portions of the looper fingers. The clamp 103 then descends on to the cord, after which the needle retreats, and the carrier 15 rises to the y position, Fig. 49, to place and set the cord in the eyes of the needles, while at the same time the looper fingers are partially retracted. The carrier 15 then drops to its lowest position, and the looper needles and fingers form the loops in the cord, the looper needles meanwhile turning through ninety degrees to bring the loops in position for the needle 86 to pass through them. An upper is then placed on the needles, and the carrier 15 rises to the z position, Fig. 49, after which the needle 86 passes through the loops and carries the cord to the clamp 104, which grips it. The needle then retreats, and the tension device comes into action to sever the cord against the cutter. The carrier 15 again falls, and the looper needles and looper move to the position shown in Fig. 33, the work being left hanging from the clamps and from members of a knot-tying mechanism. This consists of two semicylindrical sections 141, 142, Fig. 44, mounted in a sleeve 135, Fig. 41, in the head 102. The sleeve is rotated by segmental gearing from a cam-cylinder 150<a>; while the sections 141, 142, though keyed so as to rotate together, are independently actuated by series of links from the cylinder 150<a>, so that they can move longitudinally through the sleeve 135. In an opening at the lower end of the sections is pivoted a latch 156, which is looped to receive, in one position, the needle 86. A half-sleeve 162 depends from the sleeve 135, and serves to strip the cord off the sections as they move upwards, while its lower end, in the downward movement of the various parts, returns the latch 156 to the position from which it has. been swung by the sleeve 135 during the upward movement. Between the tying-mechanism and the clamps is a curved thread-arm 165, which is actuated from a cam 53. This arm serves the treble purpose of, first, taking up the cord before the loops are formed, and paying out surplus cord during the formation of the loops, second, drawing the cord between the jaws of the mechanism that ties the knot, and, third, of drawing the ends of the cord out of the clamps after the knot is tied. A knot-tightener 170 is also provided, being actuated from the cylinder 150<a>. The actuation of the knot-tying mechanism is as follows:-After the cord has been severed, as already described, it passes through the latch 156. The sleeve 135 then begins to rotate, and winds the cord round the sections 141, 142, where it is retained in a groove 160, Fig. 44. The sections meanwhile have commenced to rise, and the jaws at their lower ends to open. When they are fully opened, the thread-arm 165 introduces the cord between them, after which the jaws close on to the cord, the thread-arm retreats, and the sections complete their upward movement. This opens the latch 156, and the knot is then stripped off the sections by the sleeve 162, leaving the work hanging from the jaws, as shown in Fig. 41. The arm 170 then moves into contact with the cord and draws the work against a guard-arm 176, which action tightens the knot. The jaws finally open and release the cord. In front of the looper mechanism is a work guard or adjuster 177, Figs. 1 and 45, which also serves as a shield for the operator. This guard is connected by levers to a sleeve 180, which is formed with a depending arm 182 lying in the path of a collar 184 on a rod 184<a>. A spring connects the arm 182 and the rod 184<a>, which is actuated through levers 184<b>, 186 by a rod 189 connected to a treadle. The cam shaft 22<a> is coupled up with the driving pulley 191, Figs. 1 and 45, by means of any ordinary clutch mechanism contained in a casing 194, 195 and speed-reducing gearing contained in a casing 193. A projection 197 on the clutch mechanism normally engages a buffer stop 200 on the end of a stop lever 198, which is actuated from the rod 189 through the lever 186 and collars 205 on a rod 204. A hook 202 is provided to prevent the rebound of the shaft 22<a>. When the rod 189 is raised, ccacting faces 207, 208 engage one another and cause the rod to release the lever 186, which first moves the work-guard, and then throws the clutch mechanism into gear. The rotation of the shaft is stopped by a spring 199 returning the lever 198 into the path of the projection 197. The work-guard 177 may be provided with a number of ribs arranged in line with the spaces between the needles. If desired, the spacings between the looper fingers may be adjusted by shifting all the fingers simultaneously in a manner similar to that used for adjusting the looper needles. Adjusting-screws may be provided between the yoke 13 and its actuating-lever, for adjusting the looper needles longitudinally.